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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Preparing for a Book Signing Event

Advertising:

This does not have to be costly when you use the following.The InternetEvents PageBlog postFacebookAnimoto - Create a simple 'Save the Date' video. You can make a 30 second video for free. It's very easy to do. https://animoto.com/

Packing Up:

Have all the following to pack. I recommend using a suitcase with rollers. Boxes are too difficult to carry in and out of an event. And if you are attending an event where you must bring your own books, a suitcase is perfect for hauling them.

In advance order books and bookmarks. I carefully watched as readers came to my table, what they chose to take with them, besides a copy of 'Surrender the Wind'. Bookmarks were the popular thing. I had standard size postcards and not one was picked up. But the bookmarks were gobbled up! Extra large postcards were picked up too. These had the book cover on the front and were the same size as my book. But bookmarks were the most popular. I buy all these items from Vista Print and have gotten most of them for free.

In your arsenal:BooksBookmarksAn Address Book for your readers to add their addresses for when you advertise through the mail. When my new series comes out, I'll be mailing the large postcards with all the information on the back. Each person that bought a book gladly wrote in their names and addresses for me. I assured them, I do not give out their names and addresses to anyone. PensSmall pad of paperGift bags (Get them cheap at a dollar store)A large poster of your book. Vista print provides posters. They are not expensive, and once you've started purchasing from them you will receive email announcements for free produces. You can purchase a ready-made frame and set your poster up near your table. An easel is best for this. It's an initial purchase that will go a long way. You can purchase an easel for as low at $25 on Amazon.

I was blessed with a sister who is a graphic designer. She generously made me a retractable banner. These are very expensive. I've seen them online from $100 up to $400. If you cannot, or are not willing to pay that much for a banner, let me suggest Vista Print to you once more. They have lots of banners. I bought one, actually I got it for free. What Vista Print offers are not the retractable kind, but they are nicely made of vinyl and can be fixed across mostly anything. I only had to pay for the upload of the images I used. Buy 250 business cards from Vista Print ( sometimes they have a free offer) and start getting emails for free offers. http://www.vistaprint.com/

Setting Up:

Check with your hostess if she is going to provide a tablecloth. If not bring one of your own. Use a solid color. A pattern will clash with your book cover. Chose a color that compliments your book.
Stack several copies of your book on one end.
Place bookmarks and your address book beside them.

Extra Tips:
Do not over dress.
Smile and greet people warmly.
Focus on pleasing the attendees rather than how many books you sell.
Gimmicks don't work.
Do not overprice your book. At the most recent book signing, I sold more copies than most because I offered a Mother's Day Special of half off the cover price at $7. Some of the authors were selling their books for over $20 because 'they are signed'. They either sold a couple copies or none at all.

Photos: My high school classmate Marty came to visit. I appreciate all the support she gave me.
Ann Aubaugh drove a long way to see me. She's a Baltimore area writer and a former Maryland Romance Writers president.

Rita Thank you so much. Your post was just in time with some wonderful idea's on do's and donts. I have a book signing coming up in a few weeks and will make sure I have I include the large post card and the address book for mailers. Best of luck Robin

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Wife, mom, and storyteller. "My goal as a writer is to give readers a respite from the hectic world we live in, a few moments where they can forget their troubles and be touched by the promises of hope and love.

From a dear reader...

I loved DAUGHTERS OF THE POTAMAC. I love learning the historical facts you base your stories on. I am always spell bound when reading your books and can't lay them down for even a few minutes till I am done. In school, if history was written in the form of stories the whole class would pass with straight A's. Your new series was well written. I am most impatient to start you new series when it becomes available. I rate this series and your other books a TEN STAR. Oh I know, the stars only go to 5 but this is my way of saying you go off the charts for me.Keep up your wonderful writing.Thelma